Eagles: Hotel California Meaning

Song Released: 1977

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Hotel California Lyrics

On a dark desert highway
Cool wind in my hair
Warm smell of colitas
Rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance
I saw a shimmering light
My head grew heavy, and my sight grew dim
I had to stop for the night
There she stood in the...

1.  

   anonymous

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   Mar 6th 2012, 23:27 report

   
   

   i couldn't believe the over done interpretations of this song. it is so simple
   he is in the music business. he is a star, trying to get away from business, agents, consultants, lobbyists, contract, etc. this why he is driving at night. hefeels his hair blowing, after all the crap of the day he escapes from it. he smell the castus. it emphasizes escape the sweetness of escape.
   he gets the hotel; she is lying in wait for him to lure him in to the trap.he hears thfaint voices and begins to wonder what this place is. addictions (we are all here prisoners of our delights. the dinnerwhere the breast is served, couldn't be kills. the boys there and himself all have some addiction that thet have yet to overcome. this is what keeps him there. he couldn't kill the beast in of him. and he will be there until.. what happens that frees him which may never come, the concierges they are only programmed to recieve: does he get out or his truly trapped.

   
   
   
   

2.  

   anonymous

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   Mar 1st 2012, 09:07 report

   
   

   I thought it was purgatory.

   
   
   
   

3.  

   anonymous

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   Feb 26th 2012, 09:50 report

   
   

   Hi nto All
   Please, give me some links on the popular dating sites.
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4.  

   anonymous

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   Feb 17th 2012, 23:50 report

   
   

   wow,bravo!eagles made that song to deceive people

   
   
   
   

5.  

   anonymous

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   Feb 13th 2012, 21:12 report

   
   

   Wow, almost everyone has it wrong. This song is clearly about drug addiction and a drug house
   She lit up the candle, and showed me the way - candles burning under spoons.
   Pretty boys, she calls friends - boy and girl are slang for cocaine and heroine
   All prisoners of our own device - no one forced them to take the drugs, now they can't escape it
   You can check out any time you like (die) but you can never leave (kick the addiction)
   This can be Heaven or this could be hell - type of high
   But the most evident lyric is - we stab it with our steely knives (syringes) but we just can't kill the beast (addiction).
   And still the voices are calling from far away - jonesing for the drug
   
   There are several other references, but these are the one which immediately come to mind. Listen again, u will see what I mean

   
   
   
   

6.  

   anonymous

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   Feb 10th 2012, 09:32 report

   
   

   the "hotel california" is referring to the satanic church in america, led by anton lavey. when the songs says "we havent seen that kind of spirit here since 1969" it refers to the founding of the "hotel california." when the song says "you can check out any time, but you can never leave," that would be the entrapment that comes when a person joins the satanic church. "the beast," is obviously the devil, which one cannot kill.

   
   
   
   

7.  

   anonymous

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   Feb 1st 2012, 19:17 report

   
   

   The song is about anything that is addictive – drugs, money, love – because you can become imprisoned in your desire. It also reminds me of the stories about the land of the fey, where a faerie queen or king seduces a mortal and brings them to faerie land. Even though the land looks beautiful, it really isn’t. Underneath the glamour, it is really just little creatures, in rags, living in a burrow, or pile of dirt. A children’s version of this story is the Twelve Dancing Princesses. Here, the singer is travelling down the road when he sees a shimmering light – a glamour created by the faerie queen to attract a mortal to be her lover. Once he enters faerie land, he can't leave. It is beautiful and ugly at the same time.

   
   
   
   

8.  

   anonymous

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   Jan 23rd 2012, 11:12 report

   
   

   Its about coming to California and how its supposed to be opposed to how it actually is. :PP

   
   
   
   

9.  

   anonymous

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   Dec 23rd 2011, 16:59 report

   
   

   This is Great song because it makes listeners to understand it in different ways belonging to their point of view. for the first time I understood it as drug addiction

   
   
   
   

10.  

    anonymous

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    Dec 19th 2011, 14:31 report

    
    

    it's about the church of satan founded by mr. levay!

    
    
    
    

11.  

    anonymous

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    Dec 8th 2011, 10:59 report

    
    

    I think this is about infidelity. Once you've crossed the line you can check out any time but you can never leave.....

    
    
    
    

12.  

    anonymous

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    Nov 13th 2011, 08:17 report

    
    

    Yes, the song is about the decadent, extravagant lifestyle known to rock stars in the 70-80's. Spirit does not refer to alcohol though, its more of a reflection on the attitude behind "please bring me my wine".
    Its really about addiction though. To a lifestyle or alcohol or drugs, it dont matter. Addiction is addiction. The phrase "you can check out anytime you like, but you may never leave" refers to the true nature of addiction. You can be x number of years sober, but you are always an addict, or alcoholic, according to AA

    
    
    
    

13.  

    anonymous

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    Oct 28th 2011, 10:14 report

    
    

    I like the song,my meaning is simple,I look at my lifestyle,from my past,curious,inquisitive and full of adventure. I made it back to the path that I am pleased with now. I am relaxed and programmed to receive,my own Spirituality. This song is still great. Interpret it to mean whatever you feel....but God and me, we have this now,that's what matters in my heart. God is my boss! dpd

    
    
    
    

14.  

    MikeStafford

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    Oct 5th 2011, 01:13 report

    
    

    This may seem a little complex but do your research and you'll see!
    
    HELL HELL HELL! It's definitly refers to Hell and here's why! I'll start off with some background about the song. The Eagles traveled with Anton Lavey who was the High Priest of the Satanic church! His house is off of California st. in San Fransisco, it was reported as formerly being a hotel.
    
    Most don't know that 1969 marked one the most evil years in the history of the world! Those who were very spiritual knew this like Anton, what happened was the Freemasons (another Satanic group, Alister Crowley, Antons Idol was a 33 degree freemason)infiltrated the Roman Catholic Church! The Jewish Freemasons have been around along time that's why you see on the back of the dollar bill, the all seeing eye of lucifer and on the other side above the eagle the star of David, drive through just about any big city, and look on top of the sky scrapers and you'll see pyramids! The Freemasons ushered in, as they call it: The Spirit of Vatican II. This Spirit in 1969 ordered the destruction in every country and in every town that had the sacrifice of the mass, to destroy the Altars! St. Padre Pio the stigmatist (He had the wounds of Christ) prophisied saying, The world could exist easier without the sun, than it could without the mass!
    
    THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO THE END OF THE WORLD WAS PROPHISIED FOR THIS REASON!
    The Book of Malachias/Malachi says, that God shall send forth his messenger to purify the priest so that their sacrifices will be pleasing as in days past, if this does not happen he would have to destroy the world, because it grows more and more wicked, but his messenger will come!
    
    So I called up the captain, please bring me my wine (In the sacrifice the wine is the blood of Christ) We haven't had that spirit here since 1969.

    
    
    
    

15.  

    anonymous

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    Sep 27th 2011, 08:56 report

    
    

    well there is no rught or wrong awer number 3 its how people and interpret it and FYI its about a drug addiction lol get it right it u want it right lol

    
    
    
    

16.  

    anonymous

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    Sep 23rd 2011, 09:00 report

    
    

    pulease people. The song IS about drug addiction just as Life in the Fast Lane is about drugs and getting too deep into it. I mean think about it. Have you ever listened to the words? To either song? It is obvious. "she" pretty much turns them into slaves, just as addicts turn into slaves to their drug of choice. the "hotel" is a hospital (back then they did not call the "treatment centers") where someone is detoxing.
    
    ok listen to the words of "Life in the Fast Lane"...they knew all the right people they took all the right pills"..........."there were lines on the mirror there were lines on her face" any coke head worth his...uh...baking soda knows what that is talking about.
    
    and then one of them got busted with a bunch of qualudes and a 15 yr old. lol i love the eagles but they are human...and they wrote and sang about human experiences

    
    
    
    

17.  

    oracle

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    Aug 25th 2011, 14:36 report

    
    

    starting point for an accurate interpretation of this song is:
    
    In the master's chamber's
    we gathered for the feast
    
    this speaks of Jesus's body (master's chambers)
    and alludes to the sacrament of communion...
    
    Take this all of you and eat, this is my body which shall be given up for you

    
    
    
    

18.  

    anonymous

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    Jul 24th 2011, 05:57 report

    
    

    its about re-incarnating on earth. The hotel california is earth? listen to it as if you are a sprit in search of a body and it all makes sence?

    
    
    
    

19.  

    SamanthaStatic

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    Jul 1st 2011, 23:06 report

    
    

    The Wong was written about being trapped in an insane asylum, where everyone is evil and in their own little worlds. The singer had gone to an insane asylum and that experience inspired the song.

    
    
    
    

20.  

    anonymous

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    Jun 27th 2011, 12:04 report

    
    

    It's heroin addiction & taking a "stab" @ recovery! Trying to keep it simple, short & to the.point; dark desert highway= the road traveled in the addiction & starting to "feel sick" warm smell of colitas( represents the poppy plant) & saw a glimmering light= the "ritual of preparing the fix" knowing he will feel better, but not as good as the first time ( "chasing the dragon" After he "fixes" his head feels heavy, sight starts to dim= "the nod", stop for the night=pretty self explanatory. Heaven or hell=he's now unsure if "the rush" is still enjoyable" considering the risk needing much more "smack" to get high; making an o.d. a greater possibility. Starting to get "well" lit candle= a "mental light bulb" goes on he starts to think but fights the realization rehab is his only hope. "She" & "her" are metaphors for heroin. Pretty boys;friends= "her addicted victims" she still has & who still like the high even if he attempts rehab & succeeds. She may lose him but inevitably will get 5+ in return.Hotel. California ( urban legend is Camarillo state Hospital but not sure) is the rehab. Pink champagne in ice= methadone..it's plnk! You who have been down this road already know this. The captain;please bring my wine= his connection telling him " ivory flake" or "mother pearl" some of the best "h" ever hasnot been around since 1969. Her lovely face=his/their longtime perception "she" is so perfect & beautiful. You/they are forever in prison by your own device= He/they no matter what, will be in her unforgiving bondage & that "she" is not responsible for he/them coming to her clutches regardless of whatever their self rationalised reasons. As they gather for big feast= all who try recovery together in the rehab. Take a stab with steely knives=trying to survive the hideous withdrawals but still can't kill the beast=no longer able to fight the withdrawal pain the beast wins & is there with open arms to receive him/them back. Running for the door= leaving the rehab as fast as he/they can to go see "the captain" when he/they get back to the world they have always known, the captain opens his arms with pleasure & forgiveness & reassures him/they that no matter what, he/ they will ALWAYS Come back unfortunately to the only "Lovely Place" he/they have learned to know! I think that's what the song represents but who knows? Song lyrics are just so open to ones own interpretation due to the metaphoric use of words. This song or any other song can or could mean whatever the listener interprets it to mean/be.